Window regulator handle assembly



Nov. 11, 1969 R, G SPRECHER 3,477,309

WINDOW REGULATOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY Filed May 10, 1968 INVENTOR.

{fig/17201141 6 Sprecfzer ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,477,309 WINDOW REGULATOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY Raymond G. Sprecher, Detroit, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 10, 1968, Ser. No. 728,186 Int. Cl. Gg 1 /00 U.S. Cl. 74-547 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to a vehicle window regulator handle assembly and more specifically to a moveable handle assembly.

Current window regulator handle assemblies are of the low profile type which lie closely adjacent the vehicle body trim panel. The proximity of the handle and control knob to the trim panel limits the amount of manipulative space.

This invention provides a window regulator handle assembly having a low profile stored position but which may be moved or extended to a spaced use position to provide more manipulative space.

It is an object of this invention to provide a window regulator handle assembly having a crank arm which is moveable relative to the hub from a stored position, closely adjacent the trim panel, to an extended use position spaced therefrom, and which automatically returns to the stored position when the crank arm is released.

In carrying out the aforementioned object, the crank arm and hub are provided with an elongated rib and groove arrangement about which the handle is pivotable and which provides a driving connection therebetween. A spring clip is mounted against the omega clip and has a. portion maintaining the rib and groove engagement and a spaced portion engaging the crank arm and biasing it to the stored position.

Other objects and features of this invention will become more readily apparent upon reference to the following detailed description of the annexed drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a vehicle window regulator handle assembly according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional view taken generally along line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, a window regulator handle assembly 10 includes a hub portion 12 which is drivingly connected to a window regulator input shaft 14 by splines 16. As shown in FIGURE 3, an omega clip 18 projects through mating grooves 20 and 22 in the hub and shaft to axially lock the hub to the shaft. Assembly 10 also includes a crank arm 24 having a conventional padded operating portion or knob 3,477,309 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 26 at the extremity thereof. Arm 24 is connected to hub 12 for rotation therewith and for pivotal movement relative thereto between a low profile stored position adjacent the body trim panel 28, as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 2, and an extended use position spaced from panel 28, as shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 2, by means which will now be described.

Referring now to FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, hub portion 12 includes peripheral flange 30 which terminates in an elevated elongated lip 32 extending across one side of the hub. An elongated groove 34 of circular cross-section is formed in the hub adjacent lip 32 for engagement by a mating transverse rib 36 formed on handle portion 24. A groove 38 is formed adjacent rib 36 to accommodate lip 32. Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 6, crank arm 24 is bifurcated at its inner end, forming two legs 40 which embrace the cylindrical base 42 of hub 12.

Referring again to FIGURES 3 and 6, a sheet metal spring clip 44 has a central aperture 46 which embraces base 42 and includes a tab 48 which engages a groove 50 on base 42 to non-rotatably secure the clip to the hub. The base of clip 44 engages omega clip 18 and includes a curved lip 52 which engages arm 24 beneath rib 36 and biases the rib into engagement with groove 34. Clip 44 is reversely bent at 54 and divides into a pair of arms 56 which embrace base 42. Arms 56 each terminate in a curved lip 58 which engage the crank arm legs 40 adjacent grooves 60 formed thereon.

Referring again to FIGURE 4, the spring clip 44 is compressed against omega clip 18 in the assembled condition. Thus, spring lip 52 maintains secure engagement of rib 36 in groove 34. Since the lip 52 lies along the fulcrum plane, it has no effect on the positioning of crank arm 24. The compressed spring arms 56, being spaced from the fulcrum, bias the crank arm counter-clockwise to the stored position, as viewed in both FIGURES 2 and 4, in which the distal end of the crank arm, engages the trim panel 28 and knob 26 lies closely adjacent thereto.

When it is desired to operate the window regulator, knob 26 is grasped and extended to the use position, pivoting arm 24 and further compressing spring clip arms 56. This movement is limited by engagement of lip 32 with groove 38. During this movement, the underside of crank arm 24 slides smoothly over the curved spring lip 52. It will also be noted that crank arm legs 40 slide smoothly over the curved lips 58 of spring 44 until the lips 58 engage the arm grooves 60. The window regulator handle assembly 10 may then be rotated in either direction in the extended position to operate the window regulator, not shown. Upon release of knob 26, the compressed spring arms 56 fulcrum crank arm 24 counterclockwise about groove 34- to the stored position, with knob 26 lying adjacent panel 28.

Thus this invention provides a low profile window regulator handle assembly which is stored closely adjacent the vehicle trim panel when not in use, but which may be moved to an extended use position to increase manipulative space when it is desired to operate the window regulator. Obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and are contemplated within the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a rotatable window regulator handle assembly having a rotatable hub member drivingly engaging a rotatable window regulator mechanism on one side of a vehicle body panel and having an arm member for rotating the hub member, the improvement comprising: interengaging fulcrum means on an intermediate portion of the arm member and on the hub member mounting the arm member on the hub member for pivotal movement about an axis transverse of the hub rotation axis between a stored position adjacent the panel and an extended position spaced from the panel, and for effecting a rotary drive connection between the arm and hub members for unitary rotational movement about the hub member axis, biasing means engaging the arm member at the intermediate portion to maintain engagement of the fulcrum means, and second biasing means engaging the arm member adjacent one end thereof for biasing the arm member to the stored position thereof.

2. In a rotatable window regulator handle assembly having a hub member drivingly engaging a window regulator mechanism on one side of a vehicle body panel and having an arm member for rotating the hub member, the improvement comprising: a rib on an intermediate portion of the arm member, a groove formed on the hub member receiving the rib to mount the arm member on the hub member for rotary movement therewith and for pivotal movement relative thereto laterally of the hub member rotational axis between a stored position adjacent the panel and an extended position spaced from the panel, stop means limiting movement of the arm member to the extended position, and a spring member mounted on the hub member and having a first portion engaging the intermediate portion of the arm member to bias the rib into the groove and a second portion engaging the arm member adjacent one end thereof to bias the arm memher from the extended position to the stored position.

3. A manually operable handle assembly for rotatably driving a mechanism comprising, in combination: a rotatable hub member having a base drivingly connected to the mechanism, a crank arm member having an operating portion at one end and being bifurcated at its other end to provide a pair of legs embracing the hub base, an elongated transverse groove formed on the arm member adjacent the bifurcated end thereof, a rib formed on the hub member and received within the groove to fulcrum the crank arm member on the hub member for pivotal movement axially thereof and for rotational movement therewith, a spring member mounted on the hub member base and having a first portion engaging the arm member adjacent the rib to bias the rib into the groove, the spring member including spaced second portions engaging the crank arm legs to pivot the crank arm member about the fulcrum and locate the operating portion in a first position axially of the hub member, the crank arm member being manually pivotable about the fulcrum against the force of the spring member second portions to locate the operating portion in a second position axially of the hub member, and stop means on the crank arm and hub members for limiting movement of the operating portion to the second position, the spring member second portions returning the crank arm member to the first position upon manual release of the crank arm member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,278,534 4/1942 Dickason 292336.3 3,007,348 11/1961 Barnes 74-547 3,222,951 12/1965 Maursey 74-543 FOREIGN PATENTS 67,112 6/1957 France.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner E. I. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 292-353 

